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No faiths or religions beyond Christianity and Judaism have traditions of helping the poor nor do those other religions sponsor humanitarian aid organizations

Tolerating religious persecution... or are we



Tolerating religious persecution in IndiaPhoto Courtesy: A. Rogers
Not five days ago, a direct report came from India how government agencies have Christian organizations under constant telephone, internet and financial surveillance. The information was carefully divulged during a Facetime communication with a missionary in India who is a natural-born citizen of the country. The conversation was stilted as the Indian national chose words with care to avoid target terms such as Christian, ministry, missionary, gospel, Bible or scriptures. Despite laboring to avoid suspicious terminology that practically required speaking in code, the missionary was able to communicate the program's needs to the American supporter.

Censorship and persecution has been growing under India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration

Censorship and persecution has been growing under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration and it became painfully obvious during the call. Christian ministries and outreaches have come under pressure by the Hindu majority that view other religions and ideologies as a threat to the ancient caste system ingrained in Indian society. Under Modi's prejudicial approach to Christianity, attacks on pastors and supplicants have risen dramatically since his election to national office in 2014. Accompanying the scrutiny of email, cell phone communications and written correspondence, the government has restricted funds coming from the United States and other western nations transmitted through Western Union outlets. No longer are recipients allowed to collect cash from the vendors. Only checks may be issued which compels the recipient to rely on state-owned banks (there are no private banking institutions) to cash the instrument, the government extracting a hefty tax before paying out the remainder. As a result of the crackdown, Compassion International, a Christian nonprofit that "adopts" children, helping the guardians by supplying food, clothing, healthcare and educational materials to desperately poor families, has been essentially banned. In the case of the missionary on the other end of the Facetime transmission, her ministry serves children that live in the middens and trash dumps outside villages and metro areas with meals and clothes after first bathing and delousing their malnourished bodies.
Tolerating religious persecution in IndiaPhoto Courtesy: A. Rogers

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Charitable NGOs have been tagged as "undesirable" with the banks tying up millions of dollars

Not only are Christians being targeted by the Modi government, but thousands of charitable NGOs have been tagged as "undesirable" with the banks tying up millions of dollars, including over $600,000 of Compassion International funds in 2017. According to Nonprofit Quarterly, "The government accused CI of attempting to convert people to Christianity, which is deemed detrimental to the national interest." This last comment in the NPQ story relates to the growing anti-conversion movement across India. Modi's claim to fame is instituting the Freedom of Religion Act in Gujarat that established the opposite consequence in that state. In effect, the legislation restricted religions from proselytizing under penalty of a 50,000 Rupee fine and three years behind bars. Enacted "in 2003, the act makes it mandatory for a person to take permission from the authorities before converting to another religion." An even heavier penalty is invoked for reaching out to women and children of a "scheduled caste or scheduled tribe," members of which suffer most under the social system. Based on this legislation, other Indian states have pursued similar laws only to be followed by the possible passing of a national "Anti-Conversion Bill" that criminalizes any activity or speech that may incline individuals to receive the Gospel. The bill is in direct violation of the Indian constitution that acknowledges free speech and religious affiliation but reflects a growing movement to quash all humane assistance to suffering Indians by Christian churches and organizations.
Tolerating religious persecution in IndiaPhoto Courtesy: A. Rogers

Tolerating religious persecution in IndiaPhoto Courtesy: A. Rogers

Intimidation against Christians by Hindu extremists

Another native Indian ministry put it this way, "Despite the absolute free-speech guaranteed by the Constitution of India, the Christians and the Church are RESTRAINED of that freedom by the "nationalist radical groups in the ruling party."... Already these elements stop Christians and the Church from practicing their faith and in the open or even inside a Church. Those who do not comply are assaulted, persecuted, even killed; and their homes, businesses and churches are destroyed or vandalized in many parts of India." These moves by state and national parliaments have encouraged intimidation against Christians by Hindu extremists. In some regions, communities have organized motorcycle riders to circle churches during worship and fellowship meetings to deter violent attacks that have become more frequent (per witness by the missionary previously mentioned). Crimes committed against Christians have increased and reports are often dismissed by authorities. One corroborated report was of a gang of four adult Hindu men kidnapping a pastor's four-year-old daughter from her nursery school and raping her.


Government-sanctioned persecution of Christians in India

What can be done about the uptick in government-sanctioned persecution of Christians in India is up for debate. India is an active trade partner with the United States. In other such associations with oppressive regimes, America has taken a strong position in support of human rights. We have a Commission on International Religious Freedom that advises the administration and Congress regarding offenses such as what is occurring in India. The commission is up for reauthorization by Congress. Whether it's influential with the president as he establishes policies regarding an India that is pursuing a path of increased religious persecution against non-Hindus is yet to be seen. One other thought... no faiths or religions beyond Christianity and Judaism have traditions of helping the poor nor do those other religions sponsor humanitarian aid organizations, yet Hindu and Muslim majority governments bar Christians from ministering to their destitute citizens. Could they fear how the light of God might affect those who are needy in spirit as well as body? (Individuals who provided some of the foregoing information are not named to prevent potential retribution by those opposing their ministry.)

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A. Dru Kristenev -- Bio and Archives

Former newspaper publisher, A. Dru Kristenev, grew up in the publishing industry working every angle of a paper, from ad composition and sales, to personnel management, copy writing, and overseeing all editorial content. During her tenure as a news professional, Kristenev traveled internationally as a representative of the paper and, on separate occasions, non-profit organizations. Since 2007, Kristenev has authored five fact-filled political suspense novels, the Baron Series, and two non-fiction books, all available on Amazon. Carrying an M.S. degree and having taught at premier northwest universities, she is the trustee of Scribes’ College of Journalism, which mission is to train a new generation of journalists in biblical standards of reporting. More information about the college and how to support it can be obtained by contacting Kristenev at cw.o@earthlink.net.


ChangingWind (changingwind.org) is a solutions-centered Christian ministry.

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